Sunday, December 3, 2017

Revision rhinoplasty is a complex surgery in which additional cartilage is frequently required to reconstruct the nose. During primary rhinoplasty or the first nose job surgery, a septoplasty for a deviated septum may have been performed or septal cartilage may have been removed to use for grafting purposes during the rhinoplasty. If septal cartilage is unavailable for a revision rhinoplasty, then other cartilage would be required.

Ear cartilage is an adequate alternative to septal cartilage for revision rhinoplasty. This works well for the nasal tip and around the nostrils. However, ear cartilage is curved and more flimsy than septal cartilage and therefore is not a great alternative when revision rhinoplasty is necessary to straighten a crooked nose or build up the nasal bridge.

Rib cartilage is a good option when more sturdy and straight cartilage is necessary to rebuild the nose. Rib cartilage can be autologous (patient’s own rib) or cadaver rib. Cadaver rib comes from a screened donor and is purified and irradiated. It is an excellent alternative if the patient’s own rib is not an option.